Wealthy Give More Overseas, Less to Education, Religion

By

Robert Frank

Jun 9, 2010 10:30 am ET

Philanthropists like Philip Berber are focusing their charity overseas.

It is no surprise that charitable giving by the wealthy declined last year. According to a report released today by Giving USA and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, individual giving fell an estimated 0.4% in 2009, to $227.41 billion–a fairly mild drop. Total giving, by the wealthy, companies, foundations and bequests, fell 3.9% to $303.75 billion.

More significant was the shift in where the dollars are going.

According to the report, charitable donors are moving away from the the standard charitable causes–religion, education and the arts–to focus their money on health, human services and the overseas poor.

Here are some of the new winners (and losers) in philanthropy:

THE LOSERS

RELIGION–Giving to religion still accounts for 33% of total giving (the largest sector). But it declined 0.7% to $100.95 billion.

EDUCATION–Giving to education declined 3.6% to an estimated $40 billion. It was the second straight year giving to education fell.

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